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In Which We Discuss Exercise

January 20, 2013 - Jen Zbozny

Exercise is like cleaning my kitchen floor. I don't really want to do it, but once I have I feel great. Also, while doing it, I realize just how much it needed to be done.

I actually had that realization while cleaning my floor. Withhold your shock everyone, or hurry up and come on over - I've been scrubbing! Since there is always laundry to be done and new ballet shoes to purchase, it's easy to see where time and money will always be short for exercise. But I suspected if I had a more consistent exercise routine, I'd have acres of energy and could speed through my chores and use the extra time to find ways to save on groceries (like making my own shoes or something!).

That was when the genius thought occurred to me. Combine my regular duties with exercise! So far I have come up with several hilarious methods for working out while getting work done. Here are some of my favorites:

A. Run in place in the shower! You can get three to five minutes of exercise in and since you're already showering it's sweat free! Yay!

B. Park as far away in the parking lot from your destination as you can. This will force you and your kids take walk a little further in your day. Just remember where you left your car.

C. Do squats when folding laundry. Instead of sitting on the couch folding laundry, stand up. Dump your laundry on the couch. Set the laundry basket on the floor a slight distance away. When you fold each piece, bend and squat to set it into the basket.

D. Make extra trips up the steps. Instead of piling everything into one bundle and carrying it up the steps, make smaller bundles and make two or three trips up and down the steps. Step it up a little more by making sure you lift your knees nice and high!

E. Stop, drop, and plank! This is a spur of the moment, easy, sweat free, exercise. While your kids are entertained momentarily, find a (preferably carpeted) spot and plank for 60 seconds or as long as you can. If you don't know the proper form for planking, look on line, but basically, you want to put yourself prone on the floor while supporting yourself with your forearms and toes. Keep your hind end in line but not way up or way down. It will give your core section a good bit of work. Weird, but good for you.

F. Dance! If you can, get your kids into the habit of having a little dance party with you as you prepare dinner or another meal. Put on some salsa or anything that makes you want to kick up your heels and get your core and limbs moving. Technique isn't as important as enthusiasm here, so ham it up. It will make your kids happy and it's good for them to see you exercise.

G. Or you could just go to the gym, tune out the world with your head phones on, and enjoy the blissful silence of the elliptical trainer.